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The Conversation USA

In 1776, Thomas Paine made the best case for fighting kings − and for being skeptical

  • Written by Matthew Redmond, Lecturer, Université de Lille
imageWere these protesters in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 16, 2025, inspired by Thomas Paine?Alex Brandon/AP

In one of his stand-up sets, comedian David Cross rejects all political commentary that tries to answer the question, “What would America’s Founding Fathers think if they were alive today?”

For Cross, it is pointless to speculate...

Read more: In 1776, Thomas Paine made the best case for fighting kings − and for being skeptical

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